The Borno State Government has announced that approximately 6,900 individuals suspected of being genuine Boko Haram fighters are currently in custody and will face transitional justice,Daily Trust reports.
Transitional justice is a peace-building mechanism designed to address the legacies of severe atrocities and end cycles of violent conflict through various responses, including restitution, reconciliation, prosecution, and amnesty.
Zuwaira Gambo, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, made this statement during the conclusion of a dissemination of best practices and learning event organized by the Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development in Maiduguri on Tuesday.
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Gambo explained that since the mass surrender began in 2021, a total of 200,000 Boko Haram terrorists and their families have surrendered to the state government. This figure includes over 80,000 farmers who were converted into the sect, 35,000 women, and more than 50,000 children and minors.
She added that nearly 9,000 people have been reintegrated into society, highlighting the success of the program, which she described as people-oriented.
“To date, about 200,000 Boko Haram terrorists and their families have surrendered to the state government. We currently have about 6,900 real Boko Haram fighters in our custody who will face transitional justice for their crimes. We are working to ensure they are real fighters,” she declared.
In her opening remarks, Hamsatu Allamin, the Executive Director of the Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, noted that the surrendered individuals regretted their involvement with Boko Haram, often citing a lack of knowledge and the ease with which they were brainwashed in captivity.
“If Boko Haram built their ideology on religion to brainwash people into joining them, we must also use religion to tell them the truth. The government should use religion to correct these false narratives,” Allamin stated.
Under the project “Building Bridges of Reconciliation: A Community-Based Approach to Deradicalization of Women and Girls in Borno State,” over 800 de-radicalized women have been sensitized and are now contributing positively to society.
“They are ready to embrace a new life free of violence and become responsible members of society, contributing to peace-building and the overall development of their communities,” she said.
